Photos: can't "Show Referenced File in Finder"

Terence Devlin -

I don't use iCloud, I don't ever intend to, I don't use Photos app, I don't ever intend to. All I want is to be able to access my photograph files on my Mac after transferring them from my iPad, so that I can later back them up on an external drive. That's it, why does MacOS make such simple things so hard?

Hi léonie -

I figured out how to stop importing (copying) pictures to the Photos Library in OS X:

So now, after following those steps. I still can't access my photos through the Finder. Sure I can find the photos in the Masters folder, but that thing is a mess, there's no logical order. Also, I don't want to use or install another app for an action that should be able to be done using the native macOS software.

So in other words, I would like to find the pictures that have already been previously imported to the Photos Librabry, in order to transfer them to another folder. I can be trusted with my own photos. If I was able to take the pictures with my camera, I can be able to manage them without the Photos app.

I don't think over 200 people can be wrong about the same issue. I myself want the freedom over my photos. Why can't we control how we use our own files? Oh I forgot that your answer would be along the lines that an experienced user would know how to.

léonie -

I must not be understanding what you mean.

Why is it expensive to be able to access my photos without the need of Photos? I haven't applied any adjustments and/or changed their metadata. Sure, I will have to delete the imported photos in Photos' Library, but I didn't want them imported into Photos to begin with. All I wanted was to have my photo files on my iPad transferred to my Mac, to manually move them into different external drives for backing up purposes. I don't understand why one gets sandboxed out of one's own files. I already learned about how both Photos app and Image Capture app work, yet it's not what I need. I also would go as far as to say that, probably most normal users don't want this intrusive type of software within one's one operating system.

I don't plan on ever using iCloud Photo Library, and I also don't intend to work with a referenced library. All I want is direct access to my photos. The same way I've been doing it on Windows and Linux for ages.

I don't care about ever using the Photos app, all I want is access to my photo files. I don't intend to ever use Photos app. I hate it.

It is very expensive to do that. You would lose all adjustments and metadata you applied. You would have to recreate your library from scratch.

If you are planning on using iCloud Photo Library, it will not work with a referenced library.

A bit background reading:

• :Disadvantages of a Referenced Library in Photos
• https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/photos/change-where-photos-stores-photos-a nd-videos-pht1ed9b966d

See, if you explain what you actually want then you get practical help.

As Larry says: Image Capture (in the Applications Folder)

And to get your images currently in Photos out again: File -> Export -> Export Unmodified Originals.

hokerberg - Thanks brother for sharing your opinion. It's probably the only way Apple will be listen to us and empower us customers for the better. I definitely feel you.

Just use Image Capture, I didn't even know it existed prior to me asking about this. Send Photos app to the ditch.

This has absolutely nothin at all to do with the subject of this thread - if you would like help start your own thread with the details of what you have and what you want - Writing an effective Apple Support Communities question

If you just want to complain don't bother as it only wastes your time and the time of millions of others who actually want help

LN

If you disable "Importing: Copy items to the Photos Library", it will only apply to new imports. There is no way in Photos to relocate photos you already imported to Photos to a folder outside the library. But a referenced library is not very convenient. I would not go that way, unless the library is larger than will fit on one drive.

Terence Devlin -

I didn't understand what you meant with your sentence. But to be crystal clear about my intentions, I don't want Photos app to manage my photos. Since the default for importing photons on an iPad running iTunes is the Photos Library from Photos app, I'm having this horrible experience of not being in control of my own files.

Is there a way where I can set my iPad to be able to transfer my photos to my Mac without them ending up being sandboxed or managed by Photos app? I don't need Photos manager for anything. I just want control over my files.

Why do I need to export a file I already have on my computer to my own computer in order to access it in Finder?

Thats sooo "apple saying it's good UX but actually they just want you to use their own software so you are stuck in the apple-hamster-wheel"

Because that is the way Photos (a totally optional program) works - if you choose to use it then you have to use it correctly or it will not work correctly - Photos is a very complex database environment and the only way to us its library content is to use the Photos application

LN

Photos auto starts (optional yes but c'mon it's thrown in my face) when I plug in my gopro. And image capture didn't find my gopro. Nor does Finder so I can access my files like it's an external hard drive, which a camera kind of is. Don't tell me that's good UX!

Just use Image Capture, I didn't even know it existed prior to me asking about this.

If you upraded to High Sierra, you can also use Preview to import from a camera (File > Import from Camera / Import from scanner). It is as versatile as Image Capture, and it is easy to import single, selected photos.

This menu item is always greyed out. What's it there for if it never works?

It will work, if you have selected a photo, where the original image file has not been imported into the Photos Library but is in the original location outside your Photos library. These reference original files can be revealed in the Finder, but not the original of photos, that are managed by Photos inside the Photos library.

When I select a photo and want to make a change to the original,

Manual changes to the original image files are not supported in Photos. This can corrupt the Photos library.

Make all edits using Photos's Edit panel.